Actiontec GT704WG

The device is based on Texas Instrument AR7. It uses the target.ar7 in OpenWrt.

Kamikaze 8.09.2 seems to workNote: Package repo will not work with Kamikaze 8.09.2

Tested Backfire 10.03.1: Wireless not working, Package repo working

Tested Attitude Adjustment 12.09-beta2: Wireless working, tested client mode to WPA2 device successfully. Package repo appears to be working but insufficient memory errors prevent even the smallest packages to install. You may need to build your own image using buildroot if additional software is needed. Web interface causes very high CPU load.

Note that the power LED will not turn green with OpenWRT. This
doesn't imply anything is broken as it does with the default
firmware.

Note for Windows users

Windows' command line ftp client will start already out of passive mode, and in any case above command “passive off” will not work.

In the “put” command fails with a “550 Data Socket not ready” error, make sure windows firewall is disabled and/or the network connecting to the router is set as “home” or “work”.

If you are experiencing a problem with “connection terminated by remote host”, you need to add this key to the registry and reboot your computer: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\TcpMaxDataRetransmissions = 40 (DWORD, value in HEX) (CapinWinky).

Upgrading OpenWRT

If you have already installed OpenWrt and like to reflash for e.g. upgrading to a new OpenWrt version you can upgrade using the mtd command line tool. It is important that you put the firmware image into the ramdisk (/tmp) before you start flashing.

Hardware mods

Adding Hardware Flow Control to the Serial Port

To add hardware flow control (CTS/RTS) to the serial port on JP603 add 100Ohm 0603 resistor to R614 and R615 locations.

Adding Level Shifting to the Serial Port

The GT704WG has a footprint for a MAX3232 voltage level converter. This will allow to directly connect a standard RS-232 to the router. After this modification JP603 will no longer work as the serial output is redirected to JP2 with the following pinout:

32/64MB RAM mod

The GT704WG uses one 128Mbit (8Mx16) PC133 SDRAM (54-pin TSOP II). The PCB is wired to support both 256Mbit (16Mx16) and 512Mbit (32Mx16).
Using one 512Mbit device like MT48LC32M16A2 (or similar) your GT704WG will have 64MBytes of RAM.
All is needed is to remove U105 and replace with the new chip.

The chips can be found mounted on old PC133 DIMMs or SODIMMS. 128/256Mb DIMMS with 4 chips are the best candidates.

I have done the modification using a generic 32Mx16 SDRAM (no brand). The Adam2 installed on my router will reset the memsize environment variable at every reboot so the mod will be useful only when using kernels with memory size auto detection (the stock firmware will not auto detect the memory size).
OpenWrt will correctly size the memory regardless of the env settings.